loveMONEY Champions: who is the best Cash ISA provider?

Vote to decide who should win best Cash ISA provider for 2015/16.

A Cash ISA is a great way to save money tax-free. But who is the best Cash ISA provider?

You told us Coventry Building Society, Halifax, Nationwide and Virgin Money were your favourites over the last 12 months

Now we want your help to pick an overall winner. You can vote using the poll below. To help you make up your mind here’s some more about each of the contenders.

Coventry Building Society

Coventry Building Society consistently offers competitive rates with its range of easy access and fixed rate Cash ISAs.

It’s well known for being one of the only providers to offer savers the option of a four-year fixed rate Cash ISA, often with attractive rates.

At the moment its easy access account pays 1.5% on balances from £1. That’s the best rate around at the moment on accounts you can open from £1. The account also allows transfers in of previous years’ allowances.

The building society also offers a Junior Cash ISA which pays 3.25% on deposits from £1. This is a top rate if you want no strings attached. The market-leading deal from Halifax requires you to also have an adult ISA to get the top rate of 4%.

Compare Cash ISAs

Halifax

Halifax is another provider in the running for best Cash ISA provider.

The bank also offers a selection of easy access and fixed rate Cash ISAs, of which the Junior Cash ISA is worth shouting about.

Its Junior Cash ISA pays a leading rate of 4% on balances from £1, as long as the parent holds an adult Cash ISA with at least £1 in it. This is a market-leading rate.

Halifax also offers the best rate on a Help to Buy ISA, also paying 4%. These accounts are designed to help people to save toward a deposit for a home tax-free. Read more in: Help to Buy ISA: start date and rates for first-time buyers saving a mortgage deposit.

Halifax savers are also treated to the excitement and chance of winning big in a monthly prize draw.

The bank offers all savers that hold £5,000 or more in a qualifying savings account the chance to opt in for a chance to win thousands of cash prizes of between £100 and £100,000 each month.

Nationwide

Nationwide comes highly recommended by readers.

That could be because the building society is a big believer in rewarding loyalty. Lots of Nationwide’s top deals are reserved for existing customers even when it comes to Cash ISAs.

The Nationwide Flexclusive ISA, for example, pays 1.5% — the top rate of any easy access ISA available right now on deposits from £1. The account allows transfers in of previous year’s allowances and unlimited withdrawals.

Non-Nationwide customers can also get great deals though.

The Smart Junior ISA, for example, pays 3.25%, the best rate you can get without having to jump through hoops. The next best deal from Halifax pays 4% but you will need to have an adult ISA with the bank to qualify.

Virgin Money

Virgin Money is another top Cash ISA provider according to our readers.

The bank is considered one of the so called ‘challenger banks’ which are taking on traditional high street names. It offers deals on easy access and fixed rate Cash ISAs as well as a Help to Buy ISA.

Virgin Money is especially competitive on fixed rate ISAs. At the moment its five-year fixed rate bond pays 2.35% on deposits from £100 and allows transfers in of previous year’s allowances. The rate is the third best around.

The bank also offers a Help to Buy ISA, which pays 3% – the second best rate after Halifax’s 4%.

Pick a winner

Now you know a little more about each of the shortlisted contenders it’s time to decide who should be the overall winner and win best Cash ISA provider of the year.

Please vote for your pick in the poll below.

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